By: anonymous

anonymous — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 17:34:45 +0000

Are the gym teacher, music teacher, and art teacher going to be on merit pay? If so, how will they be assessed? Will they ride on the backs of the reading and math teachers? There is a very big question to answer here.

By: Kim

Kim — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:47:24 +0000

The $131,000 sounds great for a salary in education to go teach and make a difference. Is there a doctor of education running the school building and or how experienced is the principle? How solid operationally is the building and how progressive Guskey and Marzano is the the vision , mission and philosophy ? That’ll take serious team work to achieve and all operations in the building up and running smoothly. Are the teacher’s selecting their own curriculum ? Open Court and Saxon Math with flexibility is excellent. What ever the curriculum, do the children have books,paper,pencils and school supplies ? Not interested in this robot teaching to a NCLB test ! How much creativity and school spirit is in the building ? Have we got the pep band for a rally in reading ? Is there a parade to enhance and motivate the concept characterization for reading and what story book character will you dress up as ? “Curious George ?” Is there drama,music,TD,psychology and is resource on top of GS 94-142 with social services in the hall way ? Is there someone running the computor department ? Are your partner teacher’s fun, and positive ? What resources are set up in the building and how stable is operations ? What is the % of teacher retention in the building ? Will parents that don’t own cars ride the school bus in to be a part of their child’s progress ? How is the PTA ? What kind of neighborhood support organizations and community organizers are working with the school in partnership ? How is displine handled ? How much administrative support does the principle have to get out of her office and in the classrooms to help with instructional feedback and be more hands on and effective in teacher instructional support and leadership ? What is the literacy coach like ? Find the CEO’s of Publishing Companies and you’ve scored ! You’ll be spoiled rotton on all the literacy creative fun going on ! Is the radio station in the building blasting music at 6:30 AM ? Is the principle dancing with her teacher’s down the hall ways ? Does the school have social events and dances ? A whole lot needs to be in place to make $ 131,000 ! Who is the principle connected with as outside community business partner’s and how many more has she signed up ? Are the copy machines working in the building ? Is there an art teacher,music teacher and PE teacher ? Merit Pay ? Umm ! You better make sure operations and all needs are met in those school buildings before you jump into that !Is there balance with the centralization and decentralization going on within reform efforts ? A positive school environment can create magical results of endless possibilities ! How conventional is the principle viewing methods of instruction ?How much creativity are teacher’s allowed in following the curriculum for intellectual enhancement and creating an engaging, instructional classroom atmosphere ? Is American history taught K-5 and what are the books used with curriculum concerning ? How many week-end retreats for fun does the principle set up for she and her staff ? A little training and some fun ! Would have loved to have seen this $131,000 in “one” school building out of several experienced in an inner city that would have made it happen ! The rest would have failed short and depends a lot on leadership and the team you’re working with and most certainly operations solid !The neighborhood and environment around the school makes no difference and have experienced that reality ! Pilot the program in 10 schools and compromise to evaluate results ? $131,000 ? Okay,you pick you’re curriculum and allow our team select and we’ll evaluate who’s team aces in scores viewing instructional accountability at the end of the year in comparision ! Empowerment of teacher choice and flexibility with creativity soars scores ! Make sure the school has a debate and chess team too and gets to travel nationally for competitions !Is the traveling science bus this week ? What are the field trips planned for the school year ? NCLB and 10 % ? That’s not working and highly qualified isn’t either and view national percentages on that ! We’re not asking for a $700 billion dollar bail out and over $400,000 to spend at a spa ! Let’s see what the “Ready Schools Initiative” team findings are ! Are the basic needs met in the school buildings for teacher’s and principles to be successful prior to agreement of contractual changes ? If not, iceberg ahead and find a float with a whistle !

By: Ed is Watching » Challenge Grows for Michelle Rhee’s Washington DC Teacher Innovations

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:48:20 +0000

[...] Rhee is fast approaching a critical crossroads that will put her bold leadership to the test, as her showdown with the teachers union reaches the moment of truth. The Washington Post reports that union leaders are giving in to cries [...]

Comments on: Momentous Showdown between Michelle Rhee and D.C. Teachers Union

By: anonymous

By: Kim

By: Ed is Watching » Challenge Grows for Michelle Rhee’s Washington DC Teacher Innovations